An intersection in a northern German city has become the first to allow pedestrians to face off in a "Street Pong" video game while waiting for a walk signal.

The game, installed in a Hildesheim, Lower Saxony, intersection by University of Applied Sciences and Arts students Sandro Engel and Amelie Kunzler, features small touchscreens attached to posts on either side of the road to allow pedestrians to face off in a version of the classic 1972 arcade game "Pong" while waiting for the walk signal.

"We are not only very pleased that the innovative idea comes from Hildesheim, but also that it's also been implemented here first," Hildesheim Mayor Ingo Meyer told Deutsche Welle.

Engel said he came up with the idea about two years ago while waiting at a slow intersection.

"You play with people you haven't seen before, which is also cool," said Engel.

The students said the game will be tested for four weeks at the intersection to see if it continues to capture the interest of pedestrians.